Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines.



J. M. MERROW.

FEEDING MEOHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1910.

Patented. Oct. '2, 1913.

. a differential feed when the machines are with trimming m'ec anism as is. the case 'nism of the type commonly known as .a

jection just recited.

JOSEPH M. MERBOW, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

FEEDING I E CIQANISM FOB SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 7, 1913. Application filed, November 3, 1910. Serial No". 590,487.

To all whom-it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. MnRRow, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanisms for Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifioatlon, and to the characters of reference thereon. v

Thisinvention relates to feeding mechadifi'erential feed, such feeding mechanism being provided with two feed dogs or work engaging elements each actuated either wholly or partially independently of the other, and the invention consists in peculiar constructions and combinations hereinafter pointed out and claimed.

Sewing machines, especially those of the overseaming type, are often provided with used on knit goods or. other material liable to stretch or out at its edge. The difi'erential feed is designed to obviate the stretch. ing effect, and is arranged to cause one feed dog (located in advance of the needle) tofeed the goods up to the needle or point of overseamlng, faster than the said goods are fed away from the needle by a second feed dog (arranged to operate in rear of the needle) and thus the goods are slightly corrdensed or gathered at the edge, near the point of overseaming.

In a machine fitted up with differential feeding mechanism as heretofore made, there IS a tendency when operating upon heavy material, such as sweater goods and the like, for the goods, as. they are pushed along by the forward feed dog, to slide over the rear feed dog and then pass out ofthe machine more rapidly than at the feeding rate of the rear feed dog and, under such conditions the edge of the goods will be stretched or pouted.

'The invention has for its particular object the improvement of feeding mechanism of the type described to overcome the ob These improvements are shown and described as particularly applicahle, to overseaming machineeof the well known Merrow type, which ma be either unprovided with the machine shown in Patent No.. 591,049 issued October 5, 189.7, to Joseph M". Merrow, orhaving trimming mechanism as shown in the Patent No. 733,760 issued July 14, 1903, to William H. Stedman.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of these'improvements, in connection with a partially illustrated -trimmingand overseaming machine having a differential feeding mechanism, correspondmg in its general characteristics with that for which an application for Letters Patent Serial No. 473,567 was filed January 21, 1909, by William H. Stedmamand characteristic features only of which willi be described herein. In the drawings-Figural is an end elevation of these improvements in connection with a partially illustrated, trimming. and overseammg machine. Fig. 2 shows in'perspective, a portion of the feeding ,meclianism detached from. the machine. Fig: 3 is an elevation of some of the elements of the Fig. 1, as'viewed from the opposite direction. Fig. 4; is a view on a somewhat larger scale than the preceding figures, illustrating in plan portions of the machine adjacent'the needle plate and showing. a piece of goods upon the said needle plate, the edge of which piece pf goods is undergoing the process of being trimmed and overseamed. Fig. 5 is a view showing the lower portion of the presser foot and many elements of the Fi 4 in elevation, but showing the needle ate in section.

Like reference diameters in the several figures indicate the same parts. I

The number 10 denotes the frame of the machine, 11 the head, 12 the needle plate support and 13 the needle plate. A spring de ressed presser foot 14 is provided with a lifting lever 17, The main shaft 20 and anupper shaft 21 have gear connection and the-usual needle driving mechanism is provided having connection with the shaft 21 whereby the rotation of the shaft effects the oscillation of the needle carrier 23 and causes the needle 25 to reciprocate through the needle plate 13. Suitable stitch forming implements or loopers cooperate with the needle toeifect the formation of over-seam stitches, this feature not demanding a complete illustration or description in connec. t-ion with these improvements.

In the feeding mechanism there are two feed bars 30 and 40 that are locat d side by so that, upon the rotation of the shaft, thev feed bars are rocked vertically with reference to the pivotal supporting pin 26. To slide the feed bars horizontally there are mounted side by side upon the shaft two eccentrics 5556from which links 60-70 .tooth is preferab elfec't connection with the feed bars 30 and 40, the said links at their forward ends encircling the eccentrics and at their rear ends 'bein pivotally secured to their respective feed are by the studs 61and 71. Upon the rotation of the shaft 20 the eccentrics 55 and 56 through the links 60 and effect a positive horizontal reciprocation of the feed bars 30 and,40 which, combined with the already described vertical rocking of the said bars causes the forward ends to travel with a four motion movement. The feed bars 30 and 40 are respectively rovided at. their forward ends wit the fee -dogs 35 and 45 having goods engaging teeth 35* and '45 which are adapted to project upward through openings 13 in the needle plate 13. The overseaming machine shown in the drawings is of the same type as that shown and described ready mentioned, a lower stationa cutter being supported beneath the nee le plate 13 coiiperat-mg with an upper moving cutter 81.

The front tooth of the rear feed dog 45, at its forward end, is made with a corner or edge 45 to obstruct or hold back the goods from being fed at that point faster than the movement of the rear feed dog would carry them alon and thus facilitate the condensing or gat ering of the goods. The front y made with a flat top surface 45 which actsas a clamp against the presser. foot 14 to further ho d t e goods, and the rear edge 45 of the front toot acts as a feeding tooth and thus in these particulars, for such purposes, the form of tooth shown is preferable to a tooth of the usual form, reversed. The rear feed dog 45 is also provided with an extra feed surface which may consist of a single tooth 45 located just beyond the needle plate finger 13 (around which finger the stitches are formed) for the urpose of carrying along the chain when t e machine is chaining without fabric, as well as to assist in feedward push of the in the Patent No. 733,760 al-- ing the extreme edge of the fabric when the latter is present.

When the machine is to operate upon heavy goods, it is desirable that there be increased space or more than the usual space vertically for the condensation or atherin of the edge of the oods betweent e feed dogs and to provide t is space the presser foot is recessed as at 14 on its bearing, face between the points of cooperation with the feed dogs.

The upper face of the needle late 13 is preferab y roughened or serrate as at 13 as eommonl practised to prevent accidental backward s ipgingof the material upon the needleplate. he edge support 13 secured to the needle plate support 12 is located at the edge of the needle p ate 13 at the side of the forward feed dog and in proximit with the cutters 80 and 81 and is provide with.

coarse teeth designed to engage the oods under the presser foot and prevent any ackgoods at the edge thereof likely to be cause by the overseaming or trimming operations or both.

Having t us described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In combination, in a sewing machine, a

differential feeding mechanism including two feed dogs one of which is-provided with a tooth having a fabric enga 'ng portion arranged reversely to the feefi ng teeth to engage and retard the fabric pushed forward by the companion feed do a presser foot cooperating with the fee dogs and means for actuating the said feed dogs.

2. In combination, in a sewing machine, a v

differential feeding mechanism including two feed dogs one of which is provided with a tooth having a fabric engaging portion arranged reversely to the feeding teeth to engage the goods fed thereto by t e companion eed dog and facilitate the gathering or condensing thereof of the goods and also with a fabric engaging ortion substantially corresponding to the eed teeth to assist in feeding the goods, a presser foot coiiperating with the feed dogs, and means for actuating the feed dogs.

3. In combination in a sewing machine, a differential feedingi mechanism including a pluralit of feed ogs each having a feeding sur ace, a resser foot having a recessed sole with whic the said feeding surfaces .cooperate, means interposed between two of the feeding surfaces and partaking of the movements thereof and cooperatin with the presser foot sole whereby the gathering or condensing of the goods is facilitated, and means for actuating the feed dogs. I

4. In combination, in a sewing machine, a differential feeding mechanism including two feed dogs one arranged to retard the feeding action of the other, the retarding dog having a tooth having a fabric engaging edge arranged reversely with relation to the feeding teeth and a surface extending in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of movement of the goods, a presser foot cooperating with the feed dogs and means for actuating the feed dogs.

5. In combination, in a sewing machine, a differential feeding mechanism including two feed dogs one of which has a tooth rovided with an edge at its forward en to engage the goods and retard the feeding action of the companion feed do and with a similar edge at its op osite end to assist in feeding the goods, a at surface intermediate the edges, a presser foot cooperating with the feed dogs and adapted to clamp the goods between itself and the flat surface, and means for actuating the feed dogs.

6. In combination, in a sewing machine, a differential feeding mechanism including two feed dogs, a presser foot having a single goods engaging sole cooperating with both feed dogs and having said sole recessed between t e points of cooperation with the feed dogs and means for actuating the said feed dogs.

7. In combination, in a sewing machine, a feeding mechanism including two feed dogs and a cooperating presser foot, one feed dog having a retarding tooth provided with a flat surface between which and the presser foot the goods may be clamped to retard the feeding action of the companion feed do the said presser foo-t having a single goo s engaging sole recessed between its points of feed dog cooperation and forward of the retarding tooth to provide space for condensing or gathering the goods and means for actuatmg the feed dogs.

8. In combination, in a sewing machine, a feeding mechanism including two feed dogs, one located forward of the other, and a cooperating presser foot, the forward feed dog having teeth for feeding the goods and the rear feed dog having a feeding surface including a tooth provided with a flat goods engaging surface and two sharp edges arranged transversely to the direction of the machines feed at each end of the said surface, whereby the goods will be held in fixed relation to the said rear feed dog durin the feeding movement thereof, the said presser foo-t having a single goods engaging sole recessed to provide space for the gathering or condensing of the goods forward of the holdin tooth on the rear dog, and means for actuating the feed dogs.

9. In combination with overseaming mech anism, a gathering feeding mechanism including two differentially acting feed dogs one of which is provided with a tooth having a fabric engaging portion arranged re- .versely to the direction of feed for checking the travel of the goods from the companion feed dog, the said first named feed dog being also provided with teeth for feeding the goods independently of the said companion feed dog, a presser foot cooperating with the feed dogs, means for actuating the overseaming mechanism and means for actuating the feeding mechanism.

10. In combination with overseaming mechanism, a gatherin feeding mechanism including two differentially acting feed dogs one of which is provided with a tooth having a fabric engaging portion arranged reversely to the direction of feed for checking the travel of the oods from the companion feed dog, the said first named feed dog being also provided with teeth for feeding the goods independently of the said companion feed dog, a presser foot cooperating with the feed dogs and having a single goods engaging sole that is recessed between its points of cooperation to accommodate the gathering or condensing of the goods, means for actuating the overseaming mechanism and means for actuating the feeding mechanism.

11. In combination, in an overseaming machine including stitch forming mecha nism and trimming mechanism, a gathering feeding mechanism including two differentially acting feed dogs arranged one in front of the other, the forward feed dog having a toothed surface operating in advance of the point of trimming, and the rear feed dog having a toothed surface and an element operating in rear of the needle, the said element having a smooth fiat surface and two sharp edges cooperating with the toothed surface of the rear feed dog to limit the feeding of the goods to the feeding movement of the rear feed dog, substantially as and for the purposes described.

JOSEPH M. MERRO'VV.

Witnesses:

IRA H. SPENCER, REGINALD BIRNEY. 

